So the keyword is MIGHT, but I'm hopeful that it WILL be the best year to take the board exams in a very long time. The American Board of pediatrics has changed the way it grades and passes it's test-takers. From now on, it seems that as long as you correctly answer at least 70-75% of the exam questions, you will pass. This will be the first year but the American Board of pediatrics is trying this out. Many other specialty board exams have been using the system for very long time.

So what does this mean for you? Well, given that there is so much on the line this year for the American Board of Pediatrics (e.g., ABP scoring changes, grading changes, new computerized tests, etc.), I believe Click Here And Continue Reading…

The pediatric boards pass rate had been horrendous for years. BUT, after a very long time, the the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) finally decided to make some long-needed changes in 2012. In the prior years, your grade was essentially determined based on a curve. The curve was meant to ensure that 20-25% of first-time test takers failed the pediatric boards resulting in a pediatric boards pass rate of about 75 – 80%. So, your chances of succes were determined by the mix of your peers. If your peers were smarter than you, that meant you were more likely to fail!

The ABP's New Way of Grading

Now, they have a new way of grading the initial certification exam. They finally decided to pass you the same way you were graded in elementary school. If you get more than a certain number of questions correct, you pass! That's it!